Is new stadium study silly or outrageous?

OK, some things have changed since September. But for Mayor Jones’s new administration to hire the same consultants as his predecessor did, to study the same basic issues looks strange. Michael Martz writes for the Richmond Times Dispatch: The same firms hired by Richmond to analyze a proposed $363 million development, including a new baseball stadium in […]

March 18, 2009; 11:52 AM • by FTRea

OK, some things have changed since September. But for Mayor Jones’s new administration to hire the same consultants as his predecessor did, to study the same basic issues looks strange.

Michael Martz writes for the Richmond Times Dispatch:

The same firms hired by Richmond to analyze a proposed $363 million development, including a new baseball stadium in Shockoe Bottom, already endorsed the concept in a study produced for the city six months ago. The new, $100,000 study would be conducted by Davenport & Co. of Richmond, Economic Research Associates of Washington, and Chmura Economics & Analytics of Richmond. Those three firms delivered a report to the city in September that recommended Shockoe Bottom as a preferable site for a new stadium, rather than building a new ballpark on North Boulevard or substantially refurbishing The Diamond there.

Click here to read the entire article.

Can we really expect the same guys to say they missed something before?

Then again, there are studies that look at the big picture and there are studies that only look for evidence to back up a preconceived concept. So, then to be safe, does one need another study to investigate the last one?

Seems to me there was a recently published report that came out of Director of Community Development Rachel Flynn’s office that said The Diamond area is still the best place for a baseball stadium. Maybe somebody ought to study her study?

What this city needs right now, instead of more studies, is some common sense leadership in City Hall.

Please, Mayor Jones, stop listening to a handful of people who want to ram this Shockoe Bottom baseball stadium down Richmond’s throat. The developers’ plans were all made before the economic meltdown. Everybody’s plans for new projects were. And, all of them are being seen in a new light.

For the would-be Shockoe Bottom stadium builders to go on pretending their pre-meltdown projections for the stadium deal paying for itself easily are still on the money doesn’t do much to bolster their credibility.

This is the time for figuring out how to best use what we already have. What needs to be looked into — study — is what’s the minimum amount of money it will take to make The Diamond suitable for a team to call home until it’s decided where to build a replacement stadium.

And, Mayor Jones, here’s another suggestion, free of charge: Let’s have a referendum on the baseball stadium issue. Put it on the ballot in November. After all sides make their cases as best they can, via their propaganda and studies and such, how about letting the taxpayers express themselves on where to build a new stadium?

When it comes to a focus group, I’m more than willing to be guided by the best study of them all — the will of the people, expressed through the ballot box.

How about you, Mayor Jones?

Update (Mar. 20): Click here to read Scott Bass’ “Ballpark Analysis Conflicts With Shockoe Plan” at STYLE Weekly.